Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Intercropped Systems Between Melon and Cowpea

There is a need to assess alternative cropping systems for climate change mitigation. Hence, we aimed evaluate if cowpea, legume crop with high adaptability and active rhizodeposition, can reduce GHG emissions when intercropped melon, different intercropping patterns affect these soil emissions, elucidate are related by properties. We compared cowpea melon monocultures melon-cowpea during two cycles. The were: row 1:1 (melon:cowpea), 2:1 (melon:cowpea) mixed (alternate melon/cowpea plants within the same row), receiving 30% less fertilizers than monocrops. Results showed that CO 2 emission rates were higher in intercropping, monocrop monocrop, lowest likely due highest density of both plant species, which may stimulate microbial communities. Soil N O not affected diversification, very low values. correlated environmental factors, properties or yield quality, suggesting management growth main factors controlling emissions. When expressed on production basis, values observed owing production. However, systems, overall production, per unit product, monocrop. Thus, mostly have potential contribute sustainable agriculture increasing land productivity, reducing synthetic decreasing product. These results highlight importance considering agricultural productivity greenhouse gas designing implementing systems.